Low responsiveness of six-rowed genotypes to androgenesis in barley does not have a pleiotropic basis.

A heterozygous mutant for the two- and six-rowed character was isolated in the barley cultivar Igri through application of sodium azide to isolated microspore cultures and posterior regeneration. Six-rowed and two-rowed homozygotic plants were subsequently identified in the self-pollinated M2 progenies of the original heterozygous M1. Detailed molecular markers confirmed the isogenic nature of this recovered mutant and the original cultivar Igri. A comparative study of the anther culture response of this six-rowed induced mutant vs. diploid 'Igri' was performed to assess whether the two- or six-rowed gene influences anther culture response in barley through a pleiotropic effect or via linkage disequilibrium. No significant differences for any of the recorded variables throughout the in vitro regeneration process were detected between the 'Igri' six-rowed mutant and any of their two-rowed isogenic lines. This suggests that row-type association with anther culture response in barley cultivars is due to the effect of a tight linkage with other genes directly responsible for androgenic response.     

Quadruplex and pentaplex self-assemblies of oligonucleotides containing short runs of 8-aza-7-deaza-2'-deoxyisoguanosine or 2'-deoxyisoguanosine.

Oligonucleotides containing 8-aza-7-deaza-2'-deoxyisoguanosine (4) were investigated regarding their self-assembly in aqueous solution. The aggregation of 4 was compared with that of oligonucleotides containing 2'-deoxyisoguanosine (2b) and 2'-deoxyguanosine (1b). For this purpose the phosphoramidite of 4 was synthesized which was protected by a dibutylaminomethylidene residue at the amino group and a diphenylcarbamoyl residue at the 2-oxo function. Solid-phase synthesis furnished oligonucleotide containing short runs of the nucleoside 4. The self-assembly of the oligonucleotide 5'-d(T(4)4(4)T2) was studied by ion-exchange chromatography. The formation of a pentaplex was observed in the presence of Cs+, while a tetraplex is formed when the counter ion is Na+ or Rb+. The cation selectivity of the oligonucleotide 5'-d(T(4)4(4)T2) was found to be different from the parent 5'-d(T(4)isoG(4)T2) which was forming the tetraplex as well as a pentaplex in aq RbCl solution.     

The effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng on steroidal hormone indices of stress and lymphocyte subset numbers in endurance athletes.

A clinical trial was undertaken to investigate the effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES) and Panax ginseng (PG) on competitive club-level endurance athletes engaged in their normal in-season training. Participants were matched for training stress and received a 33% ethanolic extract (8 mL/day) containing either ES, PG (equivalent to 4 g and 2 g/day of dried root, respectively), or a placebo. A pre-test and post-test were used to evaluate the effects of six weeks of supplementation on cortisol, testosterone, and testosterone to cortisol ratio (TCR) as well as circulating numbers of total T-cells, T-helper cells (CD4), T-suppressor cells (CD8), CD4 to CD8 ratio, natural killer cells, and B lymphocytes. None of the immune system variables changed significantly nor showed any clear trend from pre to post test in any of the treatment groups. No significant change in testosterone, cortisol or TCR was observed in the PG group. In the ES group, however, TCR decreased by 28.7% from 0.0464 to 0.0331 (P=0.03). The main contribution to this decrease appeared to be a non-significant (P= 0.07) 31% trend towards increased cortisol rather than a very small non-significant (P = 0.36) 7% decrease in the calculated mean for testosterone. This result suggested that contrary to initial expectation, ES increased rather than decreased hormonal indices of stress, which may be consistent with animal research suggesting a threshold of stress below which ES increases the stress response and above which ES decreases the stress response.     

Presence of haemocyte-like cells in coccinellid reflex blood

Abstract.  Contrary to current assumptions, the reflex blood of two-spot ladybirds, Adalia bipunctata , and seven-spot ladybirds, Coccinella septempunctata , contains haemocyte-like cells. Furthermore, DNA can be extracted and amplified from coccinellid reflex blood, confirming the presence of haemocyte-like cells and demonstrating a nondestructive method of DNA extraction.     

Archaeology, Anthropology and Cult: The Sanctuary at Gilat, Israel

Archaeology, Anthropology and Cult: The Sanctuary at Gilat, Israel . Thomas E. Levy, ed. Oakville, CT: Equinox Publishing, 2006. 875 pp.